Electric lamp receptacle



July 28, 1931. H, J, MOR ET A 1,816,292

ELECTRIC LAMP RECEPTACLE Filed Nov. 50, 1925 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 July 28, 1931.

H. J. MOREY ET AL vEHLJBC'IRIC LAMP RECEPTACLE Filed Nov. 30, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 28, 1931 UNITED S ATES PATENT orflca HARRY J HOBBY AND COLEMAN LINDZEY HICHOLSON, OF SYRACUSE, N Ew YORK. AB-

SIGNORS TO PASS & SEYMOUR, INC 0! SOLVAY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 01' NEW YORK Application fled November 80, 1888. Serial No. 72,841.

This invention relates to electric lamp receptacles and more particularly to wall or ceiling fixtures.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved type of electric fixture.

More particularl it is an object of this inventionto provic e an electric fixture, for use on walls or ceilings, having a canopy which is held in position against the wall or ceiling solely by means of a ring engaging the screw shell of 'the lamp socket forming a part: of the fixture.

Another object of the present invention consists in the provision of an insulating shade ring adapted to have threaded engagement with the exterior of the screw shell of'a lamp socket.

A further object of the present invention consists in the provision of an ctric fixture provided with a socket ad: ted to be adj ustably secured. to any of the well-known types of conduit boxes; a' canopy to enclose tie base of this socket placed against the wall supporting the conduit box; and a shade ring engaging the screw shell of the socket and holding the canopy in position.

A still further object of the present invention consists in the provision of inter-' locking means between a socket supported from a conduit box and a canopy to prevent relative rotation between the same.

Still another object of the present invention consists in the provision of an insulat ing shade ring having threaded'engagement with the exterior of the screw shell of a socket which is adjustably supported from a wall or ceiling and serving as the sole' means to retain a canopy in position over the base of the socket.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be more apparent as the de-- I scription proceeds. 1 For a complete understanding of the pres-' ent invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and following specification, wherein are disclosed several exemplary embodiments of the present inven I .nncac'rmc LAMP EECEPTACLE those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

In said drawings:

, Figure 1 is an elevation of an electric fixture, constructed according to the present invention, shown secured in position on a conduit box, the wall-supporting the conduit box being shown in section;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the fixture shown in Figure 1 with the lamp and shade removed;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal c'entral section through the fixture disclosed in Figure 1, certain parts bein shown in elevation; I

Figure 4 is a ottom plan view of the socket adapted for use with the receptacle;v

provi ed with a lamp ring instead of a shade rin and Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 showin the fixture with still a difl'erent type of con uit box.

The present invention contemplates the provision onan electric fixture preferably formed with all of'the exposed arts of nsulating material such as molde porcelain, bakelite or the like. Such a type of fixture, especiall v .very desirable for use in bath rooms, kitchens and like places where the smooth white surface offers but slight lodgment for dust and can readily be cleaned with a damp cloth. I a

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the fixture is adapted to be supported from a conduit or outlet box of any of the well-known types, suchas 1Q,-wh1eh is secured to or fastened n a wall 11 in any conventional manner. The main visible portion of the fixture is the cano' y 12 of generally frustro-conical form, alt ough any desired shape. to conform to the surrounding furnishings ma be used. The large end of the canopy 12 is provided with a flat base 13 adapted to fit closely. against the. wall and hide from view the conduit 'box. A shade ring14 is secured to the fixture 1n a manner to be later described and provides means for the attachment of a shade 15 of glass or china such as are well-known in the art and which serves to difi use and soften the light from the lamp 16 mounted axially in the fixture. The fixture may be mounted either on a wall or the ceiling and is conveniently provided with a. pull chain 17 for lighting and extinguishlng the lamp, although where wall switches are used the fixture can be readily formed with a keyless socket and the chain eliminated.

Considering first the construction disclosed in Figure 3, it will be seen that the outlet box 10 is of any suitable form and is mounted with its outer surface substantially flush with the surface of the wall upon which the fixture is to be mounted. The socket or lamp receiving element of the fixture comprises a porcelain base 18 of the form shown in Figures 3 and 4 upon the upper face of which is m'ountedthe screw shell 19 internally and externall threaded as is common in most sockets. he usual center contact 20 is also provided. Within a recess in the bottom of the porcelain base 18 is arranged a conventional form of ull chain switch covered by a sheet of insu ating material 21. This switch may be of any convenient type, and since it forms no part of the present 1nvention, has not been shown in detail and will not be further described. In case the fixture .is intended for use with a wall switch, the base 18 will be of the same configuration but will be solid instead of apertured to receive a switch. The ears 22 of the base are perforated as at 23 to receive the screws 24 which are not threaded in the portion passing through these cars. Between the unthreaded and the threaded ortions of each screw is arranged a crimpe washer or likedevice 25 to retain the .screw in position loosely in the base so that it will not be lost in shipment. Preferably lock washers 26 are provided beneath the heads of the screws.

A mounting strap 27' is provided for the socket which strap comprises a stamping or punchin of sheet metal having the ears 28 provid with the threaded openings 29 adapted to be engaged by the screws 24 for adj ustably positionin the mounting strap in relation-to the socket ase. The central portion 30 of the mounting strap lies in'a p ane parallel to but spaced a considerable distance from the plane of the ears 28 and is provided with the large central aperture 31 and the radial slots 32 connected therewith. The outlet box 10 may be provided with a box stra 33 which extends diaimetrically the ace ofvthe box andis secured to t e usual ears thereon by the screws 34. Near its center this box strap is erforated to receive and threadedly engage t 1e screws 35 which pass through the portion 30 of the mounting strap and are in the slots 32 thd'ein to thus across enable the mounting stra to be securely fastened to the box strap, t ereby' securing the base of the socket to the outlet box in such a manner that it can be adjusted to and from the same by rotation of the screws 24.

The canop 12 is hollow, as best shown in Figure 3, aml as i. s outer end is provided with the aperture 36 so that it can readily be placed over the socket base after the same has been mounted on the outlet box with the screw shell 19 rojecting through the aperture 36 and entlrely beyond the outermost portion of the canopy.

The fixture is wired by bringingconductors from the conduit box to the circuit terminals 37 of the socket before the canopy is placed in position. The canopy is then mounted over the socket base and the shade, ring 14 applied to hold it in osition. This shade ring is formed prefera bly by molding from the same or similar material used in making the canopy and has a central aperture 39 threaded to engage over the external threads of the screw shell 19. The inner flat annular surface 40 of the shade ring 14 engages the u outer fiat annular surface 41 of thev canopy so that when the ring is screwed into position it presses the canopy tightly a ainst the wall 11 to retain it in position wit out the aid of other fastening means such as screws and the likewhieh are usually resorted to.

The unique construction of the shade ring 14 is an im ortant feature of the present invention. eing formed entirel of insulating material it can be threaded directly upon the screw shell of the socket and forms not onl a finish for the same but a mechanical an electrical protection therefor. The exterior of the shade ring may be of any desired configuration to carry out the motif of the cano y and is provided with a circumferential ange 42 having an inner cylindrical surface 43 of a size to receive the base of the usual shade such as shown in Figure 1; This flange is provided with a plurality preferably three, substantially radial perforations adapted to receive therein tubes 44 which are internally threaded to be engaged by the screws 45 used in the well-known manner to retain the shade in position. The apertures are counterbored at the exterior of the flange to allow the tubes to be headed over to retain them in position. At the inner ends of the apertures, the flange is provided with the recesses 46 to receive the large non-circular heads on the tubes 44 so that the edges of the heads ma engage. the walls of the recessesand there y hold the tubes against rotation.

In order that there shall be no relative rotation between the canopyand the socket base, the interior of the canopy is so shaped as to receive the cars 22 of the socket base in recesses 47 in the walls of the canop which recesses are so shaped that their walls engage "with the edges of the ears and thus limit t for it locates the switch base within the canopy in such a manner-that the pull chain leaves the switch at the proper an le and passes throu h the aperture 48 prov1ded in the canopy or the same, thusinsuring that therebe no binding in the action of the chain. In initially mounting a fixture of the type just described,the box strap 33 is so secured upon the box as to allow the proper positioning of the mounting strap 27 thereon, by means of the screws 35 being placed in any of the slots 32, so that the chain will hang in the proper osition when the fixture is mounted. T en by the aid of a' suitable template or other measuring device the screws 24 are usted until the top face of the ears 22 is a suflicient distance from the wall to allow the major portion of the screw shell 19 to project through-the opening 36 in the canopy. and yet not so far as to have the top faces of the ears 22 engage against the bottoms of the recesses 47 and thus hold the canopy away from the wall.

The above described arrangement allows for the ready removal of both the shade ring and the canopy without disturbing the wiring, for the purpose of inspectin or changing the same. the fixture .can'be removed by a novice and replaced after cleaning without disturbing the wiring. Y

In order that vibrations or other extraneous means may not cause the shade ring to become unscrewed, it is preferred to provide it with a counterbore 49 which is pro-v vided in its cylindrical wall with teeth or longitudinal flutes 50, as shown in Figure 3, which are adapted to be engaged by a spring finger 51 secured, in any desired manner, to the switch base and projecting up alongside of and substantially parallel to the screw shell. The circular opening 36 in the top a of the canopy has a connecting radial slot 52 extending therefrom to allow this spring finger to pass freely through the same. The outer face of the s ring finger may be provided with a punched out projection to fit between the teeth in the counterbore and offer resistance to the unscrewing of the shade ring. At the same time the slot 52 limits the mounting of the base within the canopy to a single position, whereas the recesses 47 only e assembly of the socket within the canopy to two positions. This absolutely insures the proper ositioning of the chain.

The adjustable screws 24 assin throug the mounting strap 27 al ows or considerable variation in t e positioning of the conduit box.' It is well-known that in buildin construction the boxes are mounted before the walls are plastered or otherwise finished, and the boxes may be crooked, project above the plaster or be Alsothe washab le parts of .tioning of the eature rovided by the,

considerably sunken below the some, but nevertheless the ad'ustability of the screws taken together wit their loos'eness in 'thefea'rs of the socket base allows for compensation of these inequalities in the box mounting.

The construction disclosed in Figure5 is substantially identical with that shown in L to Figure 3 but a different type of. box is used.

' The box 10' is mounted back of the plaster 11 and isprovided with a cover or neck iece project-mg through the wall in such a orni that a box strap cannot be arranged, nfthe box. In this case the usual form of xtur'e stud 61 may be secured in the bottom of the box 'as' is well-known by means of bolts 62. Upon this fixture stud is mounted the ex: tension ada ter 63 which has a bottom tion 64 per orated to fit over the stud. his portion 64 is retained in position by the nut 65 threaded upon the fixture stud in the usual manner. The portions 66 project at a right. angle to the base 64 of the extension adapter and are connected at their u per ends and provided with the right-angle ear 67 threaded to receive the screws 68 which pass through the slots 32 in the widened portion of the mounting strap 27 secured to the socket base. In-this wise the socket base is rigidly secured to-the conduit box 10' and-the canopy and shade ring can be mounted as previously described.

In case it is not desirable to use a shade I In Figure 6 the fixture is disclosed as mounted upon a BX or surfacetype of box 10, in which case the mounting strap-27 has its large central aperture 31 mounted directly upon the stud 71 of the box 10 and held thereon by the. lockv nut 72. In this case'as well as inthe case of Figure 5, the ad usta- "bility of the mountingstrap to and from the socket base is of extreme importance in order to enable the proper assembly and mounting of the fixture irrespective offtheexact posiboxes or slight variations 1n their size due to being made by 'difierent manufacturers; I

Various other means of mounting the fixture will suggest'themselves to those skilled in the art, but it is considered that the essential feature resides in the adjustabillt of the mounting'strap' as previously described. I

by Letters Patentis: I V

1. In an electric fixture, in combinat on,

Having thus" described the invention what is claimed as new-and desired to be secured asocket structure, an insulating base therefor, ascrew .shell mounted on said base, a mounting strap, screws passing thru said insulating base and loosely and adjustably securing said mounting strap thereto, said mounting strap bein adapted to be secured to any type of con uit box mounted on a wall, a canopy adapted to fit over said sockct base and against the mounting of said conduit box, said screw shell passin thru said canopy, and an insulating sha e ring having threaded engagement with said screw shell to press said canopy against said mountng.

2. In an electric fixture, in combination, an insulating socket base, ears thereon, screws passing freely thru said ears, means to retain said screws in said ears, a mounting strap engaged by said screws for adjustment to and from said base, means securing said strap to an outlet box, a screw shell secured to said base, a canopy adapted to fit over said base I with the screw shell projecting thru an aperture therein, said canopy having recesses to receive said ears to prevent relative rotation between said socket base and canopy and an insulating shade ring having threaded engagement'with said screw shell and abutting the outer face of said canopy to hold said parts together and said canopy against the wall supporting said outlet box.

3. In an electric fixture, in combination,

an insulating socket base, a screw shell secured thereto, a canopy having an aperture to allow said screw shell to project thru the wall of said canopy, a sprin secured to said base and projecting thru sai aperture, an insulating ring having threaded engagement with said screw shell and means on said ring to'engage said spring to prevent the ring from unscrewing.

4. In an electric fixture, in combination, an insulatin socket base, ears thereon, screws passing reely through said ears, mounting means adapted to be secured to an outlet box, said screws engaging in said means to ad'ust said base in respect thereto, a -screw s ell secured to said base, a canopy adapted to fit over said base with the screw shell projecting and canopy cooperating in but one position to align t e hole and chainand a rin o insulating material threaded over sai screw shell to hold the canopy against said wall.

6. In a lamp socket, 1n combination, abase, a screw, shell contact thereon having exterior threads, and interior threads to receive and electrically connect a lamp'base, a shade holder of insulating material having a bore, threads on the wall of said bore directly engaging the exterior threads of said screw shell, a circumferential flange projectin from said shade holder adapted to surround the base of a shade and means carried by said flange to project inwardly andengage the shade base to clamp it in position.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix our sivnatures.

HARRY J. MOREY.

COLEMAN LINDZEY NICHOLSON.

through an aperture therein, said canopy having a recess to receive one of said ears and a ring threaded on said screw shell and engaging the canopy to hold the same again the wall sup rtmg said outlet box.

5. In an'e ectric fixture, in combination, a lamp receptacle havin an insulating base, a screwshelland'a pull chain switch mechanism fastening means permanently attached to said base for adjustably securing the ree of the pull chain, means on said base.

cedptacle non-rotativel to a mount, a canopy 

